Will Tondo
May 30, 20232 min
Another day, another take on what should do with the former top prospect, Estevan Florial. Once a top-ten homegrown talent has fallen out of the ranks after countless shuffles between the minors and majors.
Without any options heading into the season, Florial made the Opening Day roster before getting DFA'd on April 1st. He cleared waivers and made his way back to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders a week later. Since then, he's been on an absolute tear...
Florial is hitting .322 with a 1.080 OPS. He’s scored 34 runs, driven in 28 RBI's, stolen 10 bags, and hit 12 homers in 36 games. It's incredible.
The problem is, year after year, he is a minor league warrior, but a major league dud. So how does he fit onto this season's Yankees?
In a healthy scenario, Judge is in right, Bader is in center. Your left field is a question mark, but Giancarlo will be returning soon. IKF has found a perfect role as your bench spark plug, and Willie Calhoun has improved offensively game after game. Greg Allen is back on the squad and offers immense speed, and Jake Bauers is on the team right now, but he isn't offering much on the offensive standpoint. I think super-utility Oswaldo Cabrera is going to get sent down when Donaldson returns, so this is what the outfield looks like. Again, this could all change because Bader just left tonight's game with an injury.
That doesn't account for what could happen at the trade deadline. The Yankees cannot have a platoon option in the outfield come playoffs, and Giancarlo Stanton seems to be the primary DH.
If there is an open spot due to injury, it's a new brainer to call Florial back up to the big leagues and give him his opportunity to prove us all wrong. But if I am being honest, I think it's time to move on. Florial is an excellent AAA player, and he has had countless times to "prove it". Well, I wouldn't say countless, but in 30 games over fours seasons, the 25 year old outfielder has boasted a .185 batting average with 21 strikeouts and 10 hits in 63 plate appearances.
Cashman needs to not prospect hug this guy anymore, and it makes sense to strike while the iron is hot and capitalize on his value. I can't deal with another Andujar or Frazier situation. Move on and get bullpen help. Package him up for a better player. Do something and don't waste him in the minors.